How to choose a professional plasterer
Decided it’s time to give your house the facelift it needs? Finding a professional plasterer near you won’t be difficult but making the right choice can be a little bit more challenging. To help you with that, we decided to list the main things to consider when choosing a plasterer, as well as a few practical questions to ask a plasterer when you first talk to them.
Things to consider when screening plasterers near you
Hiring a professional to plaster your house should be a guarantee of quality, professionalism and peace of mind that you’ll have a finished product that not only does the job but looks the part as well. So what are the things to look for when shortlisting professional plasterers to call?
Similar experience
Check their website for information on previous projects they’ve worked on. Have they done anything similar to what you are looking for? Each specific project has its requirement but having worked on something close to what you want may help.
Materials and techniques they use
A professional plaster will usually specialise in or have a preference for using specific materials and techniques. Check online the various options available and see whether the specialist you are looking at is offering the ones you prefer. If you are not sure what’s best, any professional plasterer should be able to give you advice (more on that later).
Are they licensed?
This may sound like a redundant point but it’s not. Ensuring that your plasterer is actually a licensed professional is one of the basic boxes you need to tick before even considering them as a viable option.
How long have they been trading?
Although new businesses can also do well, an established professional with years of relevant industry experience under their belt would have had the chance to learn the ins and outs of the trade. Also, having run a successful business for many years is an indication that there is no shortage of clients.
Reviews
A good amount of positive reviews from clients is always reassuring. If anything, people are more likely to comment when they are unhappy, so if you are not seeing a sea of angry comments, it’s probably a good sign.
Questions to ask a plasterer in your first meeting
Once you’ve wiggled your choices down to a few local plasterers that sound promising, you will want to get in touch with each one of them and ask them additional questions to make your final choice. Here’s a list of things to ask:
How much will it cost?
This is the obvious one. Every plasterer should be able to give you a comprehensive quote that you can compare with your budget.
Are there going to be additional charges?
An initial quote is fine but things can change depending on the type of property. For example, there may be an additional charge if scaffolding is needed to access high ceilings. Also, a plasterer may charge you for skip hire and waste disposal. Building trust is based on being clear about such costs from the start.
How will payments be made?
The method of payment and whether it will be done in instalments is definitely a point to discuss for both you and the professional plasterer. It’s important to set clear expectations from the start.
How long will it take?
Speaking of managing expectations, the time required for the job is a key element to discuss. In reality, if you are comparing quotes for the same project, using the same materials, then the time shouldn’t vary greatly and if it does you should ask the plasterer to explain why. It could be that they’ve picked up an issue others haven’t or that they are giving you a higher time-estimate to avoid unpleasant surprises later on.
What type of plastering do they recommend and why?
This is the plasterer’s area of expertise, so it should be easy for them to explain why they recommend a specific material or technique. The knowledge demonstrated can increase your confidence in their capabilities.
How will they handle the cleaning?
A good professional will work as cleanly as possible. There will always be a certain level of mess that comes with any house improvements but your home shouldn’t be left in a state of complete chaos at the end. Explaining how they plan to protect your house can be reassuring.
I have an issue with damp walls. Can you plaster over damp walls?
If you want to be cheeky, you can ask this as a trick question. You should never plaster over damp walls and any respectable plasterer should tell you this.
Plasterer near you in the South West
If you are looking for a professional plasterer in Wiltshire, AB Drylining offers high-quality professional services in the South West, including Bristol, Swindon and Bath. With more than 20 years of experience under their belt, the AB Drylining team of experts is always there to help you with your commercial or large domestic projects.
